“It’s Not Built to Break”: Senior Liberal Dismisses Need for Fancy Building Rules

A prominent member of the Liberal Party has

A prominent member of the Liberal Party has pushed back against what he calls “gold-plated” construction standards, insisting that Australia’s building regulations can be drastically simplified without compromising safety. Opposition housing spokesman Andrew Bragg made the remarks as he unveiled a plan to shrink the National Construction Code from a sprawling 2,000-plus pages to a lean 80-page document.

Bragg argued that current codes have become overly complex and prescriptive, driving up costs for builders and ultimately homebuyers. He said the goal is to strip away redundant requirements while retaining essential safety and quality measures. “We don’t need a rulebook that reads like an encyclopedia to put up a decent house,” he said. “It’s about being smart, not just thorough.”

Under the proposal, the federal government would work with states and territories to consolidate the code, focusing on performance-based outcomes rather than one-size-fits-all specifications. Bragg believes this approach would cut red tape, accelerate approvals, and lower construction costs, which he says are a key driver of housing unaffordability.

Critics, however, question whether slashing the code to

Critics, however, question whether slashing the code to 80 pages risks weakening protections for consumers and workers. They point to past building failures, such as combustible cladding issues, as evidence that rigorous standards are needed. But Bragg dismissed these concerns, stating that the simplified code would still mandate minimum safety benchmarks and that “a shorter document doesn’t mean a weaker one.”

He also acknowledged that implementation would require cooperation across jurisdictions, but expressed confidence that a streamlined code could be in place within a few years. The proposal is part of the Coalition’s broader push to address housing supply and affordability, which has become a key election battleground. For now, the plan remains a political proposal, but Bragg’s comments signal a willingness to rethink long-standing regulatory frameworks.